Most newborn American boys leave the hospital circumcised. Some parents choose the procedure — surgical removal of the penis foreskin — for religious reasons, some because it's customary in their family, some because they think it's healthier.

Immediate complications from the procedure are rare and usually minor, according to the Academy, affecting approximately 1 in 500 newborn circumcisions. The complications include bleeding and infection.

They also point out that while men without a foreskin are less likely to get penile cancer, the disease is actually rare anyway — affecting roughly one in 100,000 men in the U.S. each year — and fairly treatable. And although research in Africa found that circumcision more than halved the risk of men getting HIV, critics say it is hard to justify such a prophylactic procedure in a place (like the US) with considerably less HIV risk across the entire male population.

Then there's the issue of sexual satisfaction. Some say foreskin protects the head of the penis and, without it, it becomes less sensitive. Most research doesn't bear that out.

Beyond the medical arguments, ethics is a growing question. Since circumcision permanently changes a male's body, should parents even make the decision to have the procedure performed (without significant benefits), or should each person decide for themselves as adults?

The Danish Medical Association has recommended ending the practice, arguing it should be "an informed, personal choice."